About Me

I'm a full-time writer and teacher of creative writing.
I gave up the day job in 1992 and struck a three-book deal a year later.
Published 5 crime novels 1994-1997 then switched to writing serious short fiction.
I run an internet writing school known as Boot Camp, which is direct and honest and expects hard work.
While in Boot Camp, Boot Campers have won 131 First Prizes, many more after they have left.
Boot Campers and ex-Boot Campers have published or are about to publish 20 Novels and 7 short-story collections.
Six Boot Campers have become editors of journals. Two have earned MA with Distinction in Creative Writing
I tell the truth about writers and writing, which regularly gets me banned from writing sites.
My pet hates are those sites where beginning writers lie to each other about how wonderful their work is. Three years later the writing is basically the same and the praise is even higher. What's missing is genuine growth and worthwhile publications.
Favourite short stories are "A Silver Dish" by Saul Bellow, "The Ledge" by Lawrence Sargeant Hall, "The 27th Man" by Nathan Englander